an: pretty much last minute update but I worked super hard. unedited but I did my best...hope u all like. ty for reading. vote and comment

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"Aran, why?" Seyon's words echo across the empty, dilapidated ruins of the amusement park. Thiya is sure Aran and anyone in a few metres vicinity would have heard Seyon clearly. Aran's reply comes a minute later, cold and calculated—

"It's selfishness you might think. But my truth shouldn't be out. Professor Arindam won't want this outcome."

The last of Aran's words have an underlying emotion to them. A deep emotion that reveals his attachment to Professor Arindam. Seyon and Thiya detect it instantly. Thiya retaliates, putting a hand to her trouser pocket where her gun is—

"You should have listened to him much earlier if you wanted to avoid this day, Aran."

Seyon also puts his hand over his pocket where his gun is, raising his voice, eyes fixed on Aran. "Truly Aran. Why don't you calm down? We can talk. If you confess, if you truly regret your actions... Then given your talent, your punishment will lessen."

Thiya suppresses the urge to roll her eyes. Does Seyon think persuasion will work? Aran is clearly in a stage beyond that. There's no saving him.

"But... my truth will be out,inspector...." Aran's voice wavers although he never once lowers his weapon. "Everyone will know I'm... I will be loathed again—"

Thiya feels a pang in her chest. The emotion coursing through her is genuine sympathy. What, even Seyon knows, and she's not a true villainess to not feel pity towards others. Poor Aran... he's been all alone facing his blues despite having Professor Arindam there. Was Arindam too busy to notice Aran's mental well-being or did Aran hide it? Either way it's too late... Or can he be saved like Seyon and Mira are saying?

So much ambiguity. One thing seems to be certain though, Aran seems genuinely changed. But criminals like him might be volatile. Something can trigger their insanity and then boom, that will cost innocent lives. Thiya doesn't know what's the right move. But she doesn't want to think that far. Right now, Aran needs to be prosecuted for his crimes.

She recorded the audio of the exchange just now. Even that is circumstantial evidence. But it's something that can help them get a warrant against Aran. That's her way of thinking. Seyon seems to have an entirely different train of thought.

"Aran, listen. Just calm down first." Seyon doesn't draw his gun yet and holds his hand out towards Aran. "You changed, didn't you? You didn't harm Kavya!"

Thiya presses the recorder's on button putting her hand in her trouser pocket again, unsure if it can pick up Aran's voice from across the few feet distance between them.

Aran sighs defeatedly, answering Seyon. "I couldn't. Kavya is... I thought she's sassy and rude but she's... nice. Actually nice deep down and misunderstood like me."

"You're not mighty to let her go," Thiya scolds Aran though Seyon gestures to her not to.

Aran scoffs and shifts his gaze to Thiya. "I know. I realise it... It's why you need to die. I could die, you know. I came here to die. Not kill the inspector."

"I figured," Seyon says, "it's another of your craziness."

Thiya can't believe what she heard. "Seyon? Why didn't you say? When did you realise?"

"Just now, Thiya." Seyon says with a half smile, "If Aran would have wanted us dead. He'd have murdered us."

"Right..." Thiya sighs, looking away from Seyon.

"Now what?" she mutters under her breath. This sudden stand off is unexpected. Seyon hasn't pulled his gun out so she has, and held it behind her back. It's a safety measure. She can't be as reckless as Seyon. She has to save both of their lives when worst comes to worst.

"Seyon, what are you thinking?"

Seyon doesn't hear her soft whisper. He looks like he wants to convince Aran. Will it work?

"Aran, listen, we can talk. Put away the gun."

"No, inspector. It's too late... it's either you or I... Heh, in fact everyone who knows my secret should die."

Thiya sighs again but tightens her grip on her gun. Seyon grits his teeth. He tries knocking sense into the youth standing a few feet away. One last try.

"Aran, no! Stop this madness. Whatever secret you are saying, it's not come to light yet!"

"Seyon, do you think there's hope? You can't convince Aran." Thiya raises her voice and makes sure Seyon hears her this time. She has her gun ready now. Out in the open, no longer hiding behind her back.

"Seyon, let's just nab him already."

She purses her lips, awaiting Seyon's response. Should she act alone when they are a team? Is she being cruel? But she doesn't see the need to stick to humanitarian grounds for a crazed youth. Why is Seyon suddenly insistent?

"Just a moment, Thiya," Seyon finally responds to her pleas. "We can let him agree to drop his weapon and take him into custody. Then we can talk a lot."

Thiya nods and takes a small breath in. Seyon faces Aran again. He lifts his hands in a peace gesture as if to say he means to say no harm, though he doesn't let go of the gun he's holding.

"Aran, listen. There's time. You want to change, don't you? Is that why you want to kill whoever knows your secret?"

Thiya rolls her eyes. The sweat on her brow and the sultry weather is irking her beyond measure. And Seyon's lackadaisical attitude. "Seyon, stop talking already!"

Seyon hears Thiya but ignores her in favour of trying to persuade aran. He doesn't know why he wants to give this crazed, desperate youth a chance at life, a chance to redeem. It's not something he offers to every criminal. It's just that Aran is different. Thiya might ridicule his choices but Aran's past and his condition... Aran once said when on a walk during their "dates." He'd never felt so ease and at peace with another before. Only with Seyon Harith after Professor Arindam.

Seyon scratches his forehead. Why is he reminded of that just now? Why is he hesitating? Yep this is pure, pitiful sympathy... He shouts to Aran —

"Aran, drop the gun. Let's talk. I'm giving you the last chance. Don't you want to live your life again, the ordinary way you crave?"

Aran shakes his head. "It's only a matter of time, if one of you finds proof..."

He trails off. Even from a distance Seyon, Thiya can tell he's got tears in his eyes. "I could die instead of you all, but professor Arindam would be heartbroken..."

Thiya frowns, tightening hold on her gun. She can sympathize with Aran's words but now is time to leap. Seyon might still hesitate but she can't. Because sometimes hesitation wills a huge compensation to pay—

Bang! She fires at Aran, an action Seyon doesn't condemn. It happens at the same time. Aran also fires and dodges her bullet. Seyon also opens fire, as he suddenly senses Aran's intent to kill. Hells, he knew all along that persuasion won't work on Aran, yet he had to try.

"Seyon, you're back?" Thiya gawks at him ditching what she's doing, completely swept up by the current moment. "You weren't acting like yourself. For a moment there I almost thought Aran put you in a trance though it didn't seem that way."

"Thiya, I... Watch out!" Seyon wraps an arm around Thiya's shoulders. He pulls and she ducks at the same time, out of harm's way.

"Thi, No time to talk in the middle of gunfire exchange!"

"Right." Thiya straightens her posture and focuses. She has nothing to worry about now because Seyon's focus is also razor sharp.

They relentlessly fire dodge and duck. Aran is so nimble not just with his body movements but with his weapon too. His shots are hard to avoid.

"Ugh, his martial art training is something we are aware of but when did he learn to use a gun this well? Also is that laser beam?" Thiya mutters midway during the fight. Seyon hollers an affirmative response without looking at her.

Aran is a tough opponent especially armed with an electronic laser gun. It's time the CID upgrade their armament Thiya, Seyon collectively think of catching their breaths midway during the fight. Aran doesn't give a second's respite. The gunfire exchange is relentless, the noise is high. If they need to talk, they must shout!

Aran snorts, observing the battlefield he created. A battle with cops, who would have thought. A small smile lights up his face despite everything. "I see, we aren't evenly matched here, inspectors. But I'm one and you're two. So it's not exactly an unfair game. You still use guns. BTW, how long will that tech reach India? It's already there in the US marine, army and all!"

Seyon frowns, realising Aran just mocked the entire police force of the country. And the country itself. "Hey, India is no short of talent! And India will keep trying to advance despite its population disadvantage. You know what, it's also to our advantage."

Aran scoffs. He and Seyon exchange a few more barbs as a momentary, involuntary cease-fire descends on the grounds. Aran keeps smiling. That evil, possessed smile that gives Thiya chills down his spine.

"He must be planning something!" By the time she whispers that to Seyon who's right next to her, the firing resumes. At twice the speed, Aran this time purposefully targets Seyon.

Like whirlwinds, he takes Seyon far away and engages in battle. Thiya runs after the duo with her gun in hand. The more she catches up, the more those two get distant. Caught up in the battle, Seyon doesn't notice Aran's tactics. Or he is too reckless to care about it.

Thiya feels afraid knowing what that means. Seyon also said Aran would come after his life and he did! Wait, just earlier didn't he say something about killing the two of them? Why is Aran suddenly targetting Seyon alone?

"Seyon, wait for me!"

Thiya runs at full speed at Seyon and Aran who are also running and firing at each other. They dodge skillfully and none of them are harmed as of now. There's abandoned structures around plenty open with no doors to sneak in. But there's also spacious gravel ridden ground. Aran and Seyon thankfully choose the open ground as their battleground. Else it will be hard for her to catch up.

"Seyon, don't let your guard down!" Thiya yells, mustering all her strength. Seyon is far away. For a moment, she wonders if he heard her. To her surprise, he risks looking back at her in the middle of his sprint.

Bang— he ducks and dodges Aran's laser beams while retaliating with his gun. That breath-taking, daring grin she loves on his face, he hollers a response her way. "I won't!"

Thiya chews her lip, coming to a still so abruptly. She trusts Seyon. She is relieved hearing his response but the battle is far from over. Her shoes kick dust as she runs. Aran and Seyon stir more dust in her path, she's having trouble breathing now and is coughing while the men are unaffected.

The three of them have come far into the amusement park now, into the area they have never explored before. The park may be abandoned but it's huge. Now they are in an area where there is nowhere to take cover, except an occasional broken vending machine.

Thiya watches as Seyon and Aran are in a deadly battle of gun fire.

"Ugh!" She coughs, pausing her sprint on involuntary accord. Seyon and Aran are a few feet away. Even the two have paused their sprint but the fight hasn't ended. The dust raging due to their relentless dance — it's almost like a cowboy movie, fun on screen, terrifying in reality.

"Thankgod they stopped! Huh, holy! Are they running again?"

Thiya runs faster despite her exhaustion and breathlessness. But alas, the faster she runs the faster Aran and Seyon also move away from her. She holds off firing, not wanting to waste bullets. She has to reach Seyon soon. He might run out of refills!

Running hasn't been her thing but she always gives her best. That's how she was selected for IPS after all.

"Huh?" She gasps. The sight before her eyes is disbelieving. Probably the heat and the intense strain. Aran is finally slowing down. Seyon is also slowing down but his movements are less sluggish.

"Did we run in circles?" Thiya frowns, catching her breath and looking at where the three of them arrived.

They are back at the pyramid again! The hall of mirrors! Aran and Seyon are still squaring off against each other at a stone's throw away. Thiya is about to close the distance when she hears Aran shout while clicking his tongue.

"Tch, stay away, woman! You're annoying. You never know when to give up?"

Aran spits the words but doesn't look at Thiya. He and Seyon are at an impromptu stand-still, few meters away, catching their breaths. Seyon crosses the distance between them in a flash, throws a punch. "Not one more word, Aran. Be respectful to women."

Aran dodges the attack and chuckles. He secures his gun into his other hand, out of Seyon's reach. "No, no, inspector no fist-fighting. Let's refuel our guns."

Seyon frowns and looks at Thiya. His breath heaves in gasps but he looks fine to her. He notices her worried expression and reassures her with a smile. Thiya takes a step forward but Aran fires a warning shot at her. She ducks or rather steps back- his desired result.

"Ugh... are you okay, Thiya?" Seyon asks though he doesn't dare to approach the lady. He can run to check on her but the last thing he would want is to enrage Aran and cause more trouble.

"I'm okay," Thiya says, adjusting her dislodged bangs. Taking a breath and smilingfor Seyon's sake, she resigns to the fact that she's going to be a spectator now. Without wasting any time, she throws all of her bullet refills to Seyon. Seyon catches them in his hands, loads them into his gun. Aran uses a strange wireless device to recharge his gun. The one that looks like a wireless phone charger.

The firing resumes just like that. Seyon and Aran fight like the protagonist and antagonist in a high budget movie with VFX. Except that what's happening isn't VFX. Though she itches to aid Seyon, Thiya stays firm with her decision. Aran doesn't want her to join! It's the most logical thing to do.

She takes a deep breath, choosing to believe in Seyon. But I must be ready to jump in if needed. This is a deadly exchange of fire.

A couple of minutes ago she somehow updated Soham and others as she ran. They should be here right? That should stop this fight. It's not bad to seek help at times like this... it won't make her or Seyon weak. She checks her phone to track her friends' locations. They are close....

The screeches of tires can be heard. Soham, Sarthak Ramya, Ulla everyone is coming here! Thiya clasps her hands in prayer and that's when it happens. Seyon fires at Aran's foot, the young man dodges and launches off a powerful purplish laser beam. Seyon ducks, the laser beam at a breakneck speed bounces off a reflective mirror hits Aran square in the chest and he falls.

The top of his t-shirt reveals a hole through which the beam went through. Aran grunts and lies on the rugged ground. Above him the sun shines, as merciless as fate. Seyon steps back, aghast at the sight. He runs to the guy who's now on his knees.

Thiya approaches them, running. She and Seyon exchange looks and think the wound is not deep and the electromagnetic beam must have immobilized Aran.

"Let's take you to the hospital," Seyon, Thiya say in unison.

Aran shakes his head. He struggles to speak but forces himself to sound legible, "It's over..."

"What?" Thiya frowns, unable to comprehend what's happening. Seyon presses his lips together, brows knit.

"It was a ... great battle... that I enjoyed but... now it's over... It's the end..." Blood oozes out of Aran's wound. He still smiles and speaks as if it hasn't.

"Let's staunch the bleeding! Thiya!" Seyon panics and calls out to Thiya. She's already pulling her handkerchief out and pressing it to Aran's chest.

"Aran, hang in there." Thiya reassures the young man. Even for cops watching someone die is hard. They are human after all. That's what is happening right? Can they... save Aran?

Arans face is pale from blood loss and his eyes are clouding over. Seyon sorrowfully sighs at the sight and mutters, "don't give up you fool. You can still change your way!"

"Too late," Aran says with the last of his conscience. Then his voice quivers and the light leaves his eyes. He gasps for air, one last time. That's the only sound in the stillness for a moment, then the stillness is back again engulfing Seyon and Thiya's who are dumbstruck at what happened.

The loud screeching of tires returns them to their senses. Seyon throws Thiya a questioning glance.

"It's our friends. I called for backup."

Satisfied by Thiya's response that there's no threat, Seyon kneels to check Aran's pulse. He wearily shakes his head. "Too late indeed. His pulse is weak."

Thiya gulps. Aran stirs, hearing Seyon's voice closeby, perhaps. They look at Aran again who is doused in sweat. The blood won't stop, staining the air with a coppery scent. Aran opens his eyes one last time smiles at the two police officers looking down at him as he lies on the ground.

"You two... are... amazing... All of you... Especially you... Seyon... I want... to be... like you. Righteous... loving... and courageous... someone who protects... his loved ones. Thank you... officers... death... is liberating... I will have a better life... after death."

"No!" Seyon cries desperately, holding Aran's hand. "Aran, that's cowards way of thinking! Life's supposed to be fought!"

Seyon's yells echo in the quiet. Thiya puts a hand over his shoulder but doesn't stop him from rambling out his anguish.

"Do you think I had it easy, Aran? I lost Appa, the girl I loved. Then Amma died... But I... Thiya too... she persisted and countless others..."

Overwhelmed by the words, Thiya hugs Seyon's arm and presses her face against his shoulder blade. Seyon feels calmed by her touch, but there's also deep guilt at the moment. He was sticking to rules and trying to ascertain if aran was the slasher but should have adapted a different approach. They should have saved Aran before it was too late. It's his moral and official duty to protect a citizen of this country and yet...

Thiya too questions her actions in her head. She can resonate with Seyon's unspoken thoughts. What should she have done? These milliseconds so many thoughts race through her head. Did the SIT focus too much on Kavya and the case, but what should they have done?

Aran shakes his head, he mouths the words, "I'm... not strong."

Then his eyes fall shut forever. He doesn't open his eyes at multiple sounding of his name. Seyon, Thiya suppress their tears and move away from his corpse. Aran's last apology rings in their ears.

"Did he plan this to die?" Thiya wonders while looking at the sky. The battle just now, coupled with Aran's words remind her of a supernova, a dying star. She clears her throat, still not looking at Seyon, "Are we being emotional fools, crying over a merciless criminal?"

"We aren't fools to think Aran deserved another chance. He could have lived... and paid for his crimes. Death as a payment is unacceptable."

Thiya gives an understanding nod. Seyon's quiet reply brings a bittersweet atmosphere over the two of them. Their long shadows indicate it's evening. She's starving. So is Seyon. But she doubts neither of them can have food tonight. Not that they are super sensitive souls. Sensitivity needs to be abandoned on duty but... the truth is emotions can never be abandoned. They train to make them go away quickly... but each time it's a struggle anew. After all they are still human.

Unlike her, who's trying to figure out if their reaction is right or wrong, Seyon calms himself. If later grief strikes him, he will cry. Whenever some emotion overwhelms him, he will face it instead of running away, accept it... Even take time off to investigate his heart for any suppressed emotions. Had he taken this retrospection earlier, he'd have chased Thiya and would not have given up on his love or think he was over her.

The seconds tick by. Balmy evening winds touch Seyon and Thiya's sweat-doused, cold bodies. Quiet settles as there's nothing to talk about.

Seyon feels numb, again chancng a glance at Aran's lifeless form. This young man was alive minutes ago. Realising he didn't respond Thiya's question earlier, he parts his lips,

"Maybe Aran did plan to die, Thiya. This was his desired outcome. That liar. But he had the thrill of one last batte huh?"

Seyon chuckles dryly. Thiya takes a deep breath. "Aran did change. But it's too late."

Seyon bobs his head. "Looks like."

"Honestly, he's so difficult to understand. I'm saddened by the fact that he hadn't found a single person who could fully get him. Or maybe he's that closed off."

"Not everyone is lucky to find such person, and not everyone is so patient to try open a closed off heart..."

Vroom! Sreeechhh! Two jeeps park close by. Soham is the first to run to Seyon, Thiya. "What happened," he asks, then his eyes find a dead Aran.

Sarthak, Ulla Ramya who come up behind Soham, also pause in their tracks. Aran's lifeless form is a shock to witness.

Seyon smiles wistfully having successfully overcome the grief of having a life being sniffled out in front of his eyes momentarily. It's his sense of duty that gives him power whenever a tragedy like this occurs.

"Aran is dead, guys. Game over. The case is over."

Seyon's words cause the newcomers to gasp. Thiya, regaining her composure, explains what transpired in quick sentences. Looking at Seyon and her other friends, she reaffirms, "It's truly over..."

"It's over." Everyone mulls over those words. This ending... It's so sudden. Aran is dead. But what will we report to the DCP?

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TBC